Apparatus for counting and marking sheets cut from webs



BATTERSBY APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND MARKING Oct. 9, 1951 J. E.

SHEETS CUT FROM WEBS 5 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1947 1951 J. E. BATTERSBY 2,570,306

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND MARKING SHEETS CUT FROM WEBS Filed July 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 9, 1951 J. E. BATTERSBY, 2,570,306

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND MARKING SHEETS CUT FROM WEBS Filed July 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.3.

Oct. 9, 1951 J E. BATTERSBY 2,570,306

I APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND MARKING SHEETS CUT FROM WEBS Filed July 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 *IUUDiEiP mi ML 90 I Fig.4.

1172/ v 612272201 J E, fia/ttczl s 5 Oct. 9, 1951 J. E. BATTERSBY APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND MARKING SHEETS CUT FROM WEBS Filed July 10, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.5.

- -lzwv 6127601 J E,,BQ75Z 61%5 Patented Oct. 9, 1951 APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND MARKING SHEETS CUT FROM WEBS James Eckersley Battersby, Summerstown, London, England, assignor to Masson Scott & Company Limited, London, England Application July 10, 1947, Serial No. 760,053 In Great Britain May 20, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires May 20, 1966 18 Claims.

This invention relates to plant employed for cutting a web or webs of paper, card or the like (hereinafter called paper) into sheets, counting the sheets or counting and marking the cut sheets.

In stacking or collecting sheets cut from a web or webs, markers (which may be coloured paper strips) are sometimes inserted between counted reams or other numbers of sheets of paper (hereina'fter c'all'ed reams) laid so that such protrude beyond the margin of the reams as stacked.

Various automatic marker insertion devices have been employed which are more or less satisfactory, and similarly also 'a number of known counting devices operating independently or in conjunction with the automatic marker inserting devices have been employed.

The object 01' the present invention is to provide improved counting means which may be employed for controlling automatic marker insertion devices or other purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic marker insertion device which ensures that a marker must perforce be inserted after the last sheet of each predetermined count has been severed.

Another object 01' the invention is to make the actuation of marker insertion means directly dependent upon the count as predetermined by the counting mechanism, and a further object is, while attaining the above aims, to afford flexibility in count selection such that reams composed of widely different numbers of sheets, irrespective of size, may be counted out and corresponding markers approximately laid.

The invention consists in a counting device comprising: a detector switch or contacts in an electric circuit, means for closing said switch or contacts with each cut of the severing knife, and a selector and switch bank or the equivalent with electrical connections for actuating directly or through relay means a marker insertion device for introducing a marker after any predetermined number or sheets have been counted.

By the term selector and switch bank or the equivalent it is intended to include not only such apparatus as is known in automatic telephone systems, as eiiemplified by the well-known rotary line switches or uni-selectors, but also relay banks and arrangements including relays and/or electronic devices. Also the term de tector switch or contacts is intended to include both means actuated mechanically, as for ex= ample by a cam, and means under the control of a photoelectric cell actuated by the interruption of a beam of light by the passage of the severed sheets of paper.

According to a further feature of the invention the selector and switch bank comprises one or more rotary line switches or uni-selectors actuated by the electrical impulses determined by the detector switch or contacts. The contacts of the rotary line switches or uni-selectors are connected to multiple-contact selector switches adapted to be set by hand to the predetermined number, arranged so that when the switch bank or line switch reaches a position corresponding to the selector switch, a relay circuit is closed.

In a preferred arrangement there are provided a plurality of rotary line switches or uni-selectors for counting units, tens, or hundreds, etc., as may be required, and relays associated therewith which, when the predetermined number is reached on one switch eifegt the transfer of the count to another switch. Conveniently the relays are arranged to efiect the return of a rotary line switch to starting position when the predetermined number set for that switch is reached.

According to a further feature of the invention, hand operated switch means is provided for effecting the return of the rotary line switches to starting position when required.

According to a further feature of the invention, relays means actuated upon the final count being reached is provided to maintain the operating circuit of the marker insertion device closed for the period between two successive cuts of the severing knife. The detector switch or contacts are preferably closed by rotary cam means.

The invention also consists in an automatic marker insertion device, in which a continuous marker web is drawn from a reel by a feed device, the actuation of which is dependent upon counting mechanism as the last of the predetermined number of sheets is counted and severed, to feed under the severing knife of the sheet-cutting machine a strip of the marker web, somewhat greater in length than that of the sheet being cut. The arrangement is such that the marker web is severed simultaneously with the paper sheet and the severed marker and the severed sheet (or sheets) are fed together for tacking, the additional length of marker web protruding beyond the last sheet laid ready to mark the division between the previous ream and the first sheet of the next succeeding ream to be laid.

The marker web is preferably suspended above the severing knife, and comprises a roll, the end of which normally lies between a pair of feed rollers.

When it is desired to feed the marker web the gap between the rolls is closed sharply or the feed rolls are actuated so as to feed the web forward at a speed slightly in excess of the speed of the web.

In a preferred arrangement the roll of marker web and its feed mechanism forms a unit which is mounted above the severing knife, as for example on a transverse channel or like supporting member, in such a way that the required number of units may be placed in position as desired.

Preferably the feeding of the marker web is controlled by an electro-magnetic device, such as a solenoid which is ener ized in accordance with the operation of the sheet counting means.

In a convenient arrangement the marker web passes over guide rolls and between a displaceable roll. and a continuously rotated roll, the arrangement being such that when the solenoid or equivalent device is energized the displaceable roll is brou ht into engagement with the continuously rotated roll to feed the web forwardly.

According to a further feature of the invention the guide rolls for the marker web are carried upon a double-armed pivoted lever, arranged so that on the commencement of the feed the lever is swung in such a way as to relieve the strain on the web.

According to a further feature, the roll of marker web is normally held stationary by means of a brake means, which is actuated to release the roll upon movement of the aforesaid lever.

The improved counting means and the improved automatic marker insertion device according to the present invention may be employed independently in association, respectively, with known marker insertion mechanism or known counting mechanism, although the combination of the improved counting means and the improved automatic marker insertion means, as defined above, affords the most satisfactory solution in dealing with the problems involved.

Cutting machines of the type to which the invention relates are adapted to cut sheets from one or more rolls of paper or board; cardboard is often cut into sheets from a web taken from a single roll, whereas paper is more usually cut from a group of webs taken from a corresponding number of rolls. When cutting tissue, for example, as many as twenty-four rolls may be handled at the same time. These rolls are carried upon an unwinding stand or reel structure and the webs are laid into the cutting machine and cut simultaneously therein. The cutting machines are usually equipped with circular slitting knives, which are adjustable and may be arranged to slit the web in a longitudinal direction into the desired number of separate webs.

The transverse severing of these subdivided webs into individual sheets is effected by a transverse severing knife which may be of the reciprocating guillotine type, but is more usually of the rotary type and consists of a blade mounted on a rotating drum and co-operating at each revolution with a stationary knife.

The endless web of paper is drawn into the cutting machine by a pair of press rolls and the severing knife is driven from such rolls through a variable speed gear which enables the length of the sheets cut to be adjusted as required.

The cutting machines are usually equipped or associated with conveyor means upon which the cut sheets are carried with or without overlapping relation, and with an automatic device for stacking the sheets, the latter being usually referred to as a layboy.

Cutting machines are also built with two or sometimes three cutting knives in series, called duplex and triplex cutters. The purpose of these is to enable a continuous web length to be cut into one, two or even three different lengths of sheet at the same time. When duplex or triplex cutting is employed one or more of the longitudinally divided webs are fed direct to the duplex or triplex knives.

On completion of a stack of cut sheets, it is customary to remove them from the machine to a separate department where each individual sheet is examined by hand and prepared in different sales counts for delivery, but the majority of paper qualities do not require individual sheet inspection before delivery to the customer.

Sales counts are usually reams which, according to the quality of the paper, may comprise 480, 500, 504 or 516 etc. sheets.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a-rotary cross cutting machine, with conveyor tapes and automatic stacking device indicated diagrammatically, to which the invention may be applied;

Figure 2 is a diagram of connections of an electrical counting device constructed and arranged according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly diagrammatic, showing a marker insertion device according to the invention applied to a rotary cross cutting machine;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the marker insertion unit;

Figure 5 is an end view of the unit in section on the line 4-4 of Figure 4.

The invention will now be described as applied, by way of example, to a rotary cross cutting machine in which a web is drawn from one or more rolls of paper and is divided longitudinally into a series of lesser width webs by slitter knives. A machine of this character is shown in Figure l and is provided with longitudinal slitter knives I and 2, the paper web or webs 3 being drawn over a roller 4 by a pair of feeding press rolls 5 and B. The main power shaft 1 of the ma chine, drives the feeding rolls through the drive 8. The longitudinally divided web passes over a stationary cutter knife 9 and is periodically engaged by a rotary cutter knife In. The drive for the rotary knife is effected by the drive ll,- through a variable-speed gear I! to which the main shaft 1 is directly connected. The gear II is preferably of the infinitely variable type, such as the Reeves, and by adjusting the speed of the rotary knife the length ofthe cross cut sheets may be varied. The cut sheets are received by conveyor tapes indicated generally at [3, l4 and delivered to an automatic stacking device (usually called a layboy) indicated at l5. These arrangements do not form an essential part of the present invention and are consequently not illustrated in detail, but any appropriate constructions may be employed.

As previously indicated, the web 3 which is fed to the cutting machine may be single or multiple, and may be drawn from the desired number of rolls mounted upon a reel stand.

For counting the sheets of paper as they are cut, a cam device is mounted upon the shaft of the rotary knife or upon any other shaft operating in synchronism with the knife. This cam is adapted at each revolution at the point where the knife severs the web, or appropriately in advance of such cut, to close an electric switch or contacts in circuit with a source of E. M. F. and the relay means for operating the wiper arm of a selector and a switch bank of the type employed in automatic telephone exchanges, hereinafter described. The said cam may be made adjustable with respect to the shaft on which it is mounted with a View to advancing or retarding the electrical impulses with respect to the timed operation of the knife, and the said adjustment means may if desired be controlled either by hand or automatically to vary the relation of the electrical impulse to the moment of out. having regard to the wide range of the operating speeds of the cutting knife. For example, a machine may be called upon to operate at a cutting speed of as low'as 40 or as many as 300 revolutions per minute.

The arrangement of the electrical counting apparatus is shown diagrammatically in Figure 2. The rotating cam I5 closes contacts l1 once in each revolution and passes an e ctrical impu se to the counter illustrated generally at 91 in Fi ure 1 and which c mprises. as shown in Fi ure 2 five rotary line switches or uni-selectors of known type shown at I8, l9, 2!), 2| and 22. Each rotary line switch has four banks each of 25 contacts with the wipers stag ered as shown. and the different banks are indicated by the suffixes a, b c and d. It is to be noted that the banks and d of each switch ha e their contacts sho tcircuited and. these contacts are emplo ed for the h ming or returning to the startin point of the switches. Thus fifty active contacts are provided for a com lete cycle of each switch. The rotary switches 8 and H? are arranged to count the hundreds. switches 2!! and 2| count the tens, and switch 22 counts the units.

Hand-operated selector switches 23. 23a. 24. 25 and 25a are provided. of which 23 contacts graduated from 0 to for selecting the number of hundreds reouired. 24 has contacts raduated from 0 to 9 for selecting the number of. tens. and 25 has contacts graduated from 0 to 9 for sel cting the units. In this way any desired number up to 599 may be selected. The switch 23a is gan ed to 23 and 25a is ganged to 25 (i. e. the switch arms are coupled) for purposes to be described hereinafter. The contacts of the selector switches are connected to the appropriate contacts of the rotary line switches as indicated in Figure 2.

The rotary line switches are actuated step by step in a known manner by electromagnets 25. 21, 2'8, 29 and 3D. A relay 3| is connected to the contact arm of the selector switch 23 and controls the contacts 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. A second relay 31 connected to the contact arm of the se ector switch 24 controls the contacts 38, 39, 43, 4| and 42. A third relay 43 connected to the contact arm of the selector switch 25 controls contacts 44, 45, and 4B.

A fourth relay 41 connected to the contact arm of selector switch 25a controls contacts 48 and 49. A fifth relay 50 is connected in parallel with relay 43 and controls contacts 5| which are in the energizing circuit of the relay or actuating means of the marking device. It should be noted that the contact arm of selector switch 25a is staggered by one contact ahead of the contact arm of selector switch 25.

Push button switches 52, 53 and 54 in association with contacts 55, 56, 5'! and 58 are provided for closing circuits to reset the rotary line switches to zero or starting position, this operation being generally known as homing. The switches and contacts are ganged or coupled together in a manner well known in the art for operation simultaneously.

In regard to the rotary line switches I9, 20, 2| and 22 it will be noted that the contacts of the banks indicated by the suiflxes c and d are short-circuited in groups of ten, the active contacts being correspondingly connected. This arrangement provides that when the switches are horned or returned to zero the wiper arm will return to the nearest home position, e. g. that marked I!) or 20 in switch bank I90. This has the advantage of reducing wear on the switches, since the wiper arms need not move through so great a distance when homed.

In the operation of the counting mechanism, the closing of the contacts l1 by rotation of the cam I6 once in every revolution causes an electrical impulse to be passed to the electromagnet 26 of the rotary switch bank l8 which moves one contact for each impulse transmitted. When the forty-ninth contact on the switch bank IE2) is reached the electromagnet 21 of the switch bank I9 is energized, and when the desired number of hundreds as selected by the switch 23 has been reached the impulse passes through this switch to the relay 3| which is energized and closes contact 32 so that the next impulse passes through the contact 38 to the electromagnet 28 of the switch bank 22, which commences the advance step by step with each revolution of the cam. The contacts 34 and 35 which are actuated by the relay 3| act to close the loop circuit of the electromagnet 21 of rotary switch l9 which is thereby caused to return to its nearest starting or home position. At the same time the closing of contacts 33 causes the power to be connected to relay 31 which will be energized through the selector switch 24 when the number of tens selected thereby has been reached. The closing of contacts 35 maintains the relay 3! energized after the rotary switch l8 has returned to its starting position.

The operation of relay 31 after the desired number of tens has been reached actuates the contacts 38 so that the electrical impulses are passed to the electromagnet 39 of the rotary switch bank 22, and at the same time the closing of contacts 4!) and 4| of the loop circuits causes the rotary switch 2| to return to its starting or nearest home position. The closing of contacts 39 causes the power to be connected to relay 43 and the closing of contacts 42 maintains the relay 31 energized.

As soon as the required number of units has been reached on the rotary switch bank 22 the relay 43 is energized through the selected contact on the switch 25. The operation of relay 43 actuates contact arms 45 and 48 which interrupt the circuits of relays 3! and 31. At the same time the relay 5!) is energized and closes the contacts 5|, thereby energizing the circuit of the marking apparatus. This relay remains energized for one revolution of the cam l6 by virtue of the arrangement now to be described. Owing to relay 43 remaining energized the contact 42 remains closed and the next impulse which starts a new count on switch bank l8 will cause the wiper arm of switch 22 to advance one contact simultaneously with switch I9. This will cause relay 41 to be energized through the contact arm of selector switch 25a which it will be noted is one contact inadvance of the arm of switch 25, the two arms being coupled for movement together. The energizing of relay 41 actuates the contacts 48 and 49 which efiects the homing of the rotary switch 22 and disconnects the relays 43 and 59. The counting operations thereafter proceed for another cycle as before. It will therefore be seen that on the completion of the last count of the predetermined number of sheets the operating or power circuit of the marker inserting device is held closed for xactly one revolution of the cam 25, while the counting of the sheets continues in uninterrupted sequence.

It may be desirable to disconnect the counting apparatus while defective sheets are removed from the cutting machine, an in order to accomplish this a hand operated switch may be provided in the circuit of the contacts ll, arranged so as to break this circuit when required, For example, if five sheets bunches of defective sheets are removed from the cutting machine the circuit is broken by means of the switch for five revolutions of the cam and the correct sired in certain circu sheets, and to en? when this is switch bridging t e contacts a ma 3 So that the circuit -.ay be sed an number of times correspond sheets added.

After the completion of a stack of paper or the finish of a set of rolls the counting apparatus may be reset to zero simply by pressing the pushbutton or switch referred to previously.

The counting arrangement previously described may be employed in conjunction with means, which may be of any of the known kinds, for inserting a marker between the counted sheets of paper, but preferably such marker insertion means is provided in accordance with the invention as illustrated in Figure 3, which shows a marker unit arranged in relation to the main parts of a rotary cross cutting machine.

The paper web or webs 3 enter the machine over a guide roller 4 and are drawn between rotary slitter knives I and 2 by feeding press rolls and 6, and is severed by means of a rotary knife l0 operating in conjunction with a stationary knife 9, this arrangement having already been generally described in connection with Figure 1. A number of marker units are provided e provided, additional in accordance with the number of the slit webs,

each unit being independent and mounted on a transverse channel 59 permanently secured to the rotary machine, so that units may be removed and placed in position as may be required.

Each marker unit comprises a frame 69 having a channel shaped seating portion M which is clamped to the transverse channel 59 by means of a pivoted arm 62 and clamp screw 63 acting through a U-shaped clamp 54. The frame includes an upper bracket portion 65 carrying a spindle 66 on which is rotatably supported a roll 6! of marking paper. The cardboard centre 68 of the roll may be secured by a spring (not shown) fixed in a recess in the hub structure 69 and having a turned-up end which bites into the cardboard. A hinged retaining frame 19 is provided. The hub has a brake H of the internal expanding type actuated by an arm 12 through a rod 13.

The marker strip from the roll 61 is passed over guide rolls M and 15 mounted at either end of a lever 16 pivotally mounted at 71 and loaded at one end by a spring 18 anchored at T9. The pivot H of this lever carries an arm to which an end of the brake rod 13 is attached. A

double-armed lever 8| pivoted on the frame at 82 carries at its lower end a feeding roll 83. The lower end of the frame is formed with a bracket portion 84 to which is adjustably secured at sub-bracket 85 carrying a pair of cooperating feed rolls 86 and 81 which are respectively convex and concave as shown. A band 88 which may conveniently be of rubber connects the rolls 83 and 86. A spring 89 anchored at 90 is connected to the lower end of lever 8| to urge the roll 83 to the left as shown in the figure.

The upper arm of the pivoted lever BI is formed with an eye to receive a rod 9| connected at one end to the movable core of a solenoid 92, and having at its opposite end a nut 93 between which and the lever arm a spring 94 is interposed. The power cable supplying the solenoid windin is located at 95.

A roll 96 extends across the full width of the cutting machine and is driven by any convenient means, preferably by a chain and sprockets from the bottom feeding press roll 6, at a peripheral speed slightly greater than (say by about 10 per cent.) that of the bottom feeding press roll. The relation between the roll 96 and the marker units mounted on the transverse channel 59 is such that the unit feeding rolls 83 are ordinarily just clear of the surface of roll 96, but may be brought into engagementwith the latter by energizing the solenoid 92 which causes the lever 8| to'be swung in an anti-clockwise direction. The position of the feed rollers 86 and 81 may be adjusted by means of the sub-bracket B5 to direct the marking strip so that its extremity lies adjacent the path of the paper web in the vicinity of the sta tionary cutting knife.

It will be understood that the purpose of the marker unit is to feed a strip of paper from the roll 61 into. the cutting machine simultaneously with the paper webs at the appropriate moment. For example, if it is desired to mark each ream of five hundred sheets, and the cutting machine is cutting from five rolls of paper simultaneously, it will be necessary to insert the marking strip at every hundred cuts or revolutions of the rotary cutter. The counting of the sheets may be effected by a counting device as previously described, the arrangement being that when the rotary knife has made a predetermined number of revolutions, an electric current is passed through the supply cable to the solenoid 92 for the period of one revolution.

Figure 3 shows the parts in the position they will occupy when the solenoid is energized. Before this has taken place the feeding roll 83 will be clear of the driving roll 96 and the end of the marking strip will hang down from between the stationary rollers 86 and 8'! to a point near the stationary knife 9. Upon the solenoid being energized, the lever Bl will be swung counterclockwise to bring the surface of the rubber band 88 into engagement with the continuously rotating roll 96. The band 88 will commence to drive the interposed marking strip which will thereby be pulled sharply over the guide rolls H and T5 causing the lever 11 to rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot 11 and releasing the brake H through the lever arm 80. The movement of the lever 16 also results in slackening of the paper strip, thereby reducing the snatch and minimizing the danger of breaking the strip. The position of the rolls 86 and 81 is adjustable as previously described in order to enable the strip of marking paper to be directed as required. These rolls are made respectively convex and con- Gave to impart to the strip a channel-like cross-,- section enabling it to be directed accurately between the rotary and stationary cutting knives.

The power supply to the solenoid is maintained for one revolution of the cuttingknife and as soon as the circuit is broken the roll 83 will move away from the driving roll 98 so that the marking strip comes to a standstill and the brake is applied to the spool 68. As the peripheral speed of the roll 96 exceeds that of the paper webs, the marking strip will be fed forwardly at a speed greater than the linear speedof the web (or webs) so that when the web and marking strip are simultaneously severed, the length of the severed marking strip will exceed that of the cut sheet and its end will project beyond the forward end of the sheet and thus provide a convenient visual mark of the count.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for counting and marking sheets cut from a web, including rotary webcutting means and web feeding means, the combination comprising electrically operated sheet counting means including an electric circuit, a switch in said circuit, switch actuating means for actuating said switch in synchronism with each cut in the web effected by the web-cutting means, feeding means for feeding a marker together with the web to be out after a predetermined number of sheets have been counted so that the marker and sheet are severed simultaneously, electromagnetic means controlling the operation of said marker feeding means, said electromagnetic means being included in a circuit, switch means in the latter circuit, said switch means being actuated by the counting means at the end of a counting period to effect operation of said marker feeding means.

2. In apparatus according to claim 1, the combination comprising means for feeding the marker strip at a linear speed greater than the linear speed of the web so that the severed marker is longer than the severed sheet and protrudes beyond the end of the sheet.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a rotary cam operatively connected with the rotary web-cutting means for actuating the switch.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising relay means in the circuit of the counting means, said relay means being actuated by the counting means at the end of a counting period to maintain the switch means in the circuit of the electromagnetic means closed, and thus to effect operation of the marker feeding means during the period between two'successive cuts of the web-cutting means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a continuously rotatable feed roll for the marker, and a displaceable feed roll arranged to be moved by the electromagnetic means into engagement with the continuously rotatable roll, said feed rolls when in engagement acting to draw a marker web from a supply and feed it to the web cutting means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, comprising means for rotating the continuously rotating roll at a speed which feeds the marker web at a linear speed greater than the linear speed of the web so that the severed length of marker web exceeds the length of the cut sheet.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising marker feeding rolls of respectively convex and concave form, one of said rolls being driven by 10 a band passing therearound and also around the displaceable feed roll.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a continuously rotatable marker feed roll, a second feed roll mounted for displacement by the electromagnetic means into engagement with the continuously rotatable roll, said feed rolls when in engagement acting to draw a marker web from a supply and feed it to the web-cutting means such that it is severed simultaneously with a sheet being cut, a spring-loaded lever, and guide rolls on said lever over which the marker web is passed to the feed rolls such that feeding of the web by the feed rolls tends to tilt the lever and slacken the web.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising brake means for preventing rotation of the marker web supply, and link mechanism interconnecting the brake means and the springloaded lever such that tilting of the lever releases the brake means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, comprising a base frame for supporting the web-feeding means and web cutting means, a transverse member extending across and supported by the base frame, and a support mounted on said transverse member for adjustable displacement across the Width of the web, said support carrying the marker web supply, the spring loaded lever, and the displaceable feed roll.

11. Apparatus for marking sheets cut from a Web, comprising means for feeding a marker to a Web-cutting means together with the web to be out, electromagnetic means controlling the operation of said marker feeding means, switch means in the circuit of said electromagnetic means, and electrically operated sheet counting means for actuating said switch means after a predetermined number of sheets have been cut to effect operation of said marker feeding means.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising means for feeding the marker strip at a linear speed greater than the linear speed of the web so that the severed marker is longer than the severed sheet and protrudes beyond the forward end of the sheet.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising relay means in the circuit of the counting means, said relay means being adapted to be actuated by the counting means at the end of a counting period to maintain the switch means in the circuit of the electromagnetic means closed, and thereby to effect operation of the marker feeding means during the period between two successive cuts of the web cutting means.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a continuously rotatable marker feed roll, and a displaceable feed roll arranged to be moved by the electromagnetic means into engagement with the continuously rotatable roll.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising marker feeding rolls of respectively convex and concave form, one of said rolls being driven by a band passing therearound and also around the displaceable feed roll.

16. Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a continuously rotatable marker feed roll, a second feed roll mounted for displacement by the electromagnetic means into engagement with the continuously rotatable roll, said feed rolls when in engagement being adapted to draw a marker web from a supply and feed it to the webcutting means, a spring-loaded lever, and guide rolls on said lever over which the marker web is passed to the feed rolls such that feeding 11 of the web by the feed rolls tends to tilt the lever and slacken the web.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, comprising brake means for preventing rotation of the marker supply, and link means interconnecting the brake means and the spring-loaded lever such that tilting of the lever releases the brake means.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16, comprising a transverse member supported above and across the web cutting means, a support mounted on said transverse member for adjustable displacement across the width of the web, said support carrying the marker web supply, the

spring loaded lever, and the displaceable feed r011.

JAMES ECKERSLEY BATTERSBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,611,476 Maxson Dec. 21, 1926 1,942,870 Matthews Jan. 9, 1934 2,365,645 Matthews Dec. 19, 1944 2,382,998 Kleinschmidt Aug. 21, 1945 

